Laundry checking device



1936- L. z. HUTCHENS ,1

LAUNDRY CHECKING DEVICE Filed Oct. 28, 1935 Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY CHECKING DEVICE Application October 28, 1935, Serial No. 47,184

13 Claims.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in a laundry checking device and more particularly to a device for use in laundries for sorting and identifying the articles being :washed or cleaned for different persons.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of a. device of the character described in which an attendant may readily ascertain whether all of the articles of the particular person or individual have been assembled, this being accomplished without the necessity of count- Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a plurality of units, each unit consisting of a. bar having a serial number, the bar being provided with a plurality of openings in which keys are adapted to be received, each key having a number corresponding to the serial number on the bar and carrying an attaching member, illustrated in the form of a safety pin, and the openings and keys of each unit being formed so that the keys will only fit into the openings of the bar of that particular unit.

A further object of the invention resides in providing means for resiliently engaging each of the keys, this means normally holding the individual keys within the openings but permitting the same to be readily removed when desired.

With the above, and other objects in view, which ,will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing and while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, as they now appear to me, it'will be understood that such changes may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental top plan.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through one of the bars of a unit with parts shown in ele- Vation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, in longitudinal vertical section, showing resilient means for engaging and holding the keys.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing a transverse vertical section through a bar of a unit with parts shown gin elevation.

Fig. 6 is a detail, partly in longitudinal section and partly in front elevation of a slightly modified form of the invention.

Jstruction shown in Figs 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmental detail, partly in section and partly in side elevation showing a further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 9- is a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 8, the supporting bar being shown in horizontal section with the key in top plan; and

Fig. 10 is a detail, partly in section and partly in side elevation, of a still further modified form of the invention.

In laundries and cleaning establishments it is the custom for articles to be washed or cleaned to be submitted in bulk, sometimes in bags or similar containers, and on reaching the laundry the articles are separated according to the nature thereof and the manner in which they are to be washed or cleaned. It is necessary, in sorting the articles, to so mark them that all articles of a single individual may be reassembled for wrapping and delivery. It will be readily appreciated that this marking or identifying must be facilitated in regard to time as well as accuracy and although various means have been employed many have proven not to be accurate and a great many require the necessity of counting on the part of the attendant to see that all of the articles of a particular individual have been assembled. With the device as constructed by me the articles may be sorted and so marked for identification as to be readily reassembled without the necessity of counting, a plurality of keys being provided to be positioned in openings of a bar and when all of the openings have keys supported therein it can readily be ascertained that all of the articles of a particular individual have been reassembled.

In the drawing Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive illustrate what I now consider to be the preferred form of the invention. Any desired number of units may be provided for use and each unit will be given a serial number. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing I have given the unit'serial number 7. Each unit consists of an elongated bar I having adjacent one end an opening 2 whereby the bar may be hung on a nail, hook, or other suitable support. The bar is also provided with a plurality of longitudinally spacedtransversely extending openings 3 in which the shanks 4 of keys 5 are adapted to be received, the side faces of the openings and the sides of the keys being formed with cooperating ribs and grooves 50 so that the keys of a particular unit can only be. inserted in the openings of the bar forming a part of that particular unit. In other words it will be understood that the cooperating ribs and grooves of the keys and openings of each unit will be;posi.-

tioned at different points to provide the desired combinations. In the form of the invention shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawing one face or side wall of each groove is provided with an inwardly directed elongated rib or projection 5 while the opposite face or wall is provided with an elongated groove 1 on a different plane. One face of the key shank 4 will be provided with an elongated groove 8 to receive the elongated rib or projection 6 While the opposite face of the key shank is provided with a longitudinally extending rib or projection 9 adapted to be received in the groove I. As shown more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing the shanks 4 of the keys are of tapered for mation, tapering downwardly and inwardly from the top edge towards the bottom. Each of the keys is formed with an eye Ill in which is received a ring I I to which is attached a safety pin I2. In Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown the use of twelve keys, but it will be understood that any desired number may be used, the bar I being provided with openings to receive the same. I have also shown six of the keys carrying and supporting safety pins of smaller size than the pins carried by the remaining keys. It will be appreciated that the size of the safety pins as well as the number of each size may be varied as desired.

The bar I is formed along its upper edge with the longitudinally extending groove or recess I3, this groove or recess intersecting the openings 3, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Supported in this groove or recess I3, by means of the screws I4 or other suitable members, are a plurality of resilient members indicated generally at a for engaging the shanks of the keys for holding the same within the openings 3 against accidental displacement. Each of these resilient members a. includes an eye I5, through which the screw I4 passes and downwardly extending spring arms I6 formed on their lower ends with the eyes or loops II which, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawing extend in a direction parallel to the upper edge of the key shank 4. Each of the key shanks 4 is formed on its upper edge with a recess or notch I8 in which an eye or loop portion II engages for resiliently engaging the shank and holding the keys against accidental displacement.

In use a plurality of bars or units I may be hung on a nail, hook, or the like, in the receiving room of the laundry or cleaning establishment. When a bundle of wash is received the articles may be separated according to the manner in which they are to be washed and, if desired, placed in a bag such as are used in washing in laundries. To the separated articles, or the bundles thereof, a key is attached by the safety pin carried thereby, the keys being removed from the openings in the bar. The bars or units I are then removed to the assembling room and may be supported in a manner which will be described for again receiving the keys. In the assembling room the attendant sorts the articles or bundles and then the keys bearing the number of the serial number of the bar or unit I will be inserted into the openings of the bar or unit by passing the shanks thereof into the openings. When all of the openings have been filled with the keys then the attendant, without any counting, knows that all of the articles of the particular person have been reassembled and the bar or unit may be removed from its support and carried to the point where the articles are to be wrapped for delivery.

A support for the bars or units I in the assembling room is shown more particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. The support includes an upper horizontal bar I9 and vertically extending standards 20. To each of the standards 26 is secured, by means of the screw 2I or other suitable fastenings, a plate 22 having an upwardly bent portion 23 providing a hook into which the ends of the bar or unit I are received. A screw 24, or other suitable fastening, passes through the upturned hook portion 23 and a portion of the plate 22 to form an additional securing means and to provide a spacing member for the ends of the bars or units I. It will, of course, be understood that the horizontal bar I9 may be of the desired length and as many of the vertical standards 20 will be used as is necessary to support the desired numbers of bars or units I. As stated, the spring members a will hold the keys against accidental displacement but the keys may be readily withdrawn for attaching to the articles or bundles thereof.

In Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawing I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention in which the bars or units I are formed of a plurality of laminations shown at 25, which laminations or strips are cut away on their outer faces to provide a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 26 in each of which a key 21 is adapted to be positioned by a facewise movement. Certain of the laminations or strips 25, indicated at 2'5" and 28 are formed with extensions 29 and 30 respectively which project into the openings 26, on different planes, and into recesses 3| and 32 formed in opposite edges of the key 21. The bottom strip or lamination at opposite sides 33 and 34 of the opening 26 is formed with extensions 35 and 36 formed so their ends are adapted to overlap the outer face of the key as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing. With the key inserted as shown in Fig. 6 it may be removed from the opening 26 by an upward movement and then an outward movement, it being noted that the openings 3| and 32 are of such a height as to permit this vertical or upward movement. When in raised position the ends of the projections 35 and 36 will not interfere with the outward withdrawal of the key. When the key is to be inserted it is positioned within the opening 26 by a facewise movement and then permitted to drop until the ends of the projections 35 and 36 overlie the outer face thereof. The different combinations may be obtained by forming the notches 3| and 32 in different positions in the key and arranging the projections 29 and 33 of certain of the laminations at different planes to engage into the notches. The key 2'! shown in Fig. 6, bears the serial number 2 and all keys bearing this serial number will be positioned in openings 26 in a bar or unit I having a corresponding serial number. For holding the keys in proper position in the openings 25 I provide the spring catch 31 secured to the strip or unit I by means of the screw or other fastening 38 and this catch 3'! has the downwardly extending projection 39 which will overlie the upper edge of the key as shown. A safety pin will be secured to each of the keys 2'! by means of a ring 49.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawing I have illustrated a slightly modified form of key and securing member for reception in openings of a bar or unit I such as is shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawing. In this form of my invention the key is shown as being formedof a singlestrip of, metal bent or folded at 4| to provide the spring arms 42 and 43, each of the arms 42 and 43 being formed in its upper edge with a notchor recess 44 adapted to be engaged by a spring arm 45 secured to the strip or unit I by means of a screw 46 or other suitable fastening. In this form of the invention a projection 41 is formed on the outer face of each of the arms 42 and 43 and in inserting and removing the key these projections will pass through grooves 48, it being understood that the projection on one of the spring arms is on a different plane than the projection on the other arm and the grooves 48 are on correspondingly different planes. Different combinations may be secured by altering the positions of the projections and grooves. A safety pin may be secured to each of the keys by means of a ring 49.

In Fig. 10 of the :drawing I have shown a slightly different form of yieldable member for engaging the shank 50 of a key 5!, the key being of a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing. In this form of the invention the bar or unit 52, corresponding to the bar or unit I is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending openings 53 the lower ends of which register with the openings through which the shanks of the keys extend. In each of these openings 53 is positioned a ball 54 which is adapted to engage in a notch 55 formed in the upper edge of the shank. The ball is pressed downwardly by means of a coiled spring 56, the upper end of which engages the screw 51 forming a closure for the opening. A ring 58 is received in the opening 59 for carrying a, safety From the above detailed description it is thought that the construction and manner of use will be clearly understood. As stated, I have provided a construction whereby an attendant may see at a glance whether all of the articles or bundles have been assembled for a particular unit, this being accomplished by merely noting whether all of the openings of the bar or unit have keys inserted therein. At the same time the openings of each bar or unit are formed in such a manner as to only receive the keys bearing the designating mark or serial number of that particular unit. It will be further understood that the particular shape of the openings as well as the formation of the keys may be changed as desired to provide different combinations or formations and I do not desire to be limited to the particular formations of the openings or keys so long as they come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a supporting member having openings therein, members openings intersecting saidrecess. keysadapted to be inserted in or removed from the transversely extending openings intersecting said recess. resilient members positioned in the longitudinally extending recess and engageable with the keys for preventing accidental displacement thereof, and means carried by the keys for engagement with thearticles tobe laundered.

3. A device of the "character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having a longitudinally extendingrecess therein and longitudinally spaced transversely extending openingsintersecting the recess, keys adapted to be inserted in or removed from the openings, and means including spring arms positioned within the recess, said spring arms engaging the keys to prevent accidental displacement thereof, and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

4. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having a longitudinally extending recess therein and longitudinally spaced transversely extending openings intersecting the recess, keys adapted to be inserted in or removed from the openings, each of said keys having a notch formed in its upper edge, means positioned within the longitudinally extending recess and engageable With the notches in the keys for preventing accidental displacement of the keys from the openings, and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

5. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having longitudinally spaced openings in a face thereof, keys adapted to be positioned in or removed from the openings by a facewise movement relative to the bar, a single key being received in each opening, means for holding the keys against accidental displacement, and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

6. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having an opening therein, a key adapted to be inserted in or removed from the opening, means carried by the key for engagement with the articles tobe laundered, said key being formed of a single strip of material folded to provide parallel arms each having a notch in its upper edge, and means carried by the bar and engageable in the notches for preventing accidental displacement of the key from the opening.

'7. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having an opening therein, a key having a shank portion adapted to be inserted and supported in the opening and provided with a notch in an edge thereof, a spring pressed ball carried by the bar and adapted to be engaged in the notch of the shank portion of the key to prevent accidental displacement of the key from the opening, and means carried by the key for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

8. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having a longitudinally extending recess therein and longitudinally spaced transversely extending openings intersecting the recess, keys adapted to be inserted in or removed from the openings, each of said keys having a notch formed therein, means positioned within the longitudinally extending recess and engageable with the notches in the keys for preventing accidental displacement of longitudinallyv spaced transversely extendingv the keys from the openings, "and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

9. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having longitudinally spaced openings in a face thereof, said bar having portions overlying the openings, keys adapted to be positioned in the openings by a facewise movement relative there-v to and a vertical movement into engagement with the projecting portions of the bars and removed from the openings by a vertical movement from the projecting portions and a facewise movement from the bar, and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

10. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having an opening therein, a key adapted to be inserted in or removed from the opening, means carried by the key for engagement with the articles to be laundered, said key being formed of a single strip of material folded to provide parallel arms each having a notch therein, and means carried by the bar and engageable in the notch of the key for preventing accidental displacement of the key from the opening.

11. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a supporting member having openings therein, members adapted to be inserted in or removed from the aoeaie's openings, 9. single member being received in each opening and said members being formed and adapted to be supported in the openings with a portion projecting horizontally therefrom, and means carried by the projecting portions for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

12. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having longitudinally spaced openings therein, keys adapted to be inserted in or removed from the openings, a single key being received in each opening and being formed and adapted to be supported in the opening with a portion projecting horizontally therefrom, said keys and openings having cooperating projections and recesses forming combinations adapting the use of only certain keys with the bar, and means carried by the projecting portions of the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

13. A device of the character described for checking laundry or the like including a bar having longitudinally spaced openings in a face thereof, keys adapted to be inserted in and removed from the openings by a facewise movement relative to the bar, a single key being received in each opening and said bar adjacent the openings being formed to support the keys in the openings, and means carried by the keys for engagement with the articles to be laundered.

LEANDER Z. HUTCHENS. 

